Laredo, Texas - Top Rank’s Event “Solo Boxeo” Card will be held at the Laredo Energy Arena and televised in UniMas at 11 pm, ET on Saturday, April 11, 2015.

This was going to be headlined by an undefeated prospect and rising superstar, Jesse Magdaleno (20-0, 15 KOs) who comes from Las Vegas, Nevada versus Filipino fighter John Mark Apolinario (18-5-3, 5 KOs), philboxing.com caught up with Jesse Magdaleno (J.M.) for an exclusive interview:

AR (Recto) - How was your training? Did you train with Joel Diaz in Indio, CA?

J.M. – No, no, I train now in Las Vegas with Ismael Salas. We moved our camp here from California.

AR -Jesse, you have never fought in Texas except at the Texas Station Casino in Las Vegas, Nevada, how do you feel about fighting for the first time here in Laredo at our Arena?
J.M. - It’s great! I traveled a lot as an amateur and also as a pro. You know now it’s another day at the office for me.

AR -You have a very high KO percentage of 75%; do you always go for the KO?

J.M. - No, no, not always, but if it happens, it happens. I take advantage of it when it comes especially when I see my opponent hurt.

AR -You fight in the Southpaw stance but you are a natural Right handed person, why is that?

J.M. - I’m actually…I could be both. I can’t fight really that good right handed but I do a lot of things with my left and when I play soccer as well, I kick with my left foot.

AR - You are headlining this Top Rank event and you are the upcoming star. You will be the crowd favorite come Saturday night, how will that affect your performance?

J.M. - It won’t. If anything, it will improve my performance. I love a crowd. I love having people on my side and you know, having people follow me, as new fans and getting my fan base bigger so Saturday night should be a great night for me.

AR - How much do you know of your opponent John Mark Apolinario and what do you think of him? Did you study his fighting style or watch his previous fights especially with the Japanese Koki Kameda, Panamanian Jose Vasquez or the Mexican Hernan Marquez?

J.M. - Oh no, I don’t worry about that. I leave all that with my coach. I trust his work and I trust everything he tells me in the ring. And we’ll see how everything goes Saturday night.

AR -Without divulging your game plan, how do you think this fight with the Filipino John Mark Apolinario will play out? Are we going to expect another KO victory from you this Saturday or you will provide an entertaining boxing lesson? Is an upset or losing even in your mind?
J.M. - No, no, an upset is never in my mind. I know I come prepared for this fight like I do in every fight. No, I think this fight might end in a KO.

AR - You have fought mostly 8 rounder, are you ready to fight for a world title, meaning go 12 rounds?

J.M. - Oh yeah! It’s funny ‘cause we were talking about it. You know I’ve been ready since day 1, my first pro fight. I’ve been ready to go 12 rounds and when the time comes, I’ll be ready for it.

J.M. - Yeah, yeah Nonito Donaire, I would love to fight him….anybody who is in the 122-pound division, we’re ready for all of them.

AR -I’m with the Filipino website philboxing.com, have you heard of Filipino boxers Albert Pagara, Genesis Servania, or Drian Francisco?

J.M. - Yes, I’ve heard of Genesis but the other ones, I haven’t heard of.

AR -Final question, who do you pick to win in the super-fight between Floyd Mayweather and Manny Pacquiao?

J.M. - Eeyou… that’s gonna be a tough one. I mean they’re both great fighters, they’re both legends…and I’m sorry but I have to go with Floyd on this one. I think Floyd is a tremendous defensive fighter and he’s just very skillful in the ring. Right now, I think it will be a close fight though.

AR -Any message to your fans and the Filipino people?

J.M. - Sure. Anybody in the Philippines as well as in the United States, you know, I want to thank you guys, if you guys are following me. I want to thank everybody back there in Las Vegas for keeping by my side and keeping your trust in me. And everybody in Mexico as well, you know, my family comes from Mexico. Thank you guys for your support!

AR -Jesse, I wish you the best of luck, not only in this fight but also on your future career.

Thank you for this opportunity. I really appreciate it!

Photo: Undefeated future of boxing from Las Vegas Jesse Magdaleno (20-0, 15 KOs), #2 World Ranked Contender gamely poses with this Filipino writer Dr. Allan Recto (AR) during yesterday’s presser at the Laredo Energy Arena. He was scheduled to fight Filipino boxer John Mark Apolinario but bout got canceled due to inability to meet the medical requirements by Apolinario.